A Few Bizarre Anecdotes That Show Venezuela Is At The Edge Of A Dangerous Precipice

Today, he is supposed to announce new measures to reform the
Venezuelan economy — an economy that,
for the last 12 months, has had an average inflation rate of
almost 50% and faced shortages of staples like toilet paper.

What's worse, is that the 2014 budget the Venezuelan legislature
proposed last month basically ignores all those facts, and bases
its allocations on an inflation outlook of 26-28%.

Meanwhile, there are signs everywhere that Maduro is grasping at
any possible shred of political legitimacy he can get his hands
on. Last month, he asked the legislature to grant him special
powers to
combat corruption and economic sabotage.

It can't be stressed enough — he is no Chavez. So his
administration has to compensate.

For the
"sake of happiness", the Ministry moved Christmas up to
November 1st — this may also be an attempt to
jump-start some consumption. As Venezuelan paper
El Universal points, out, it also could also be a way for
the government to give its ministers some cash in the form of
early Christmas bonuses right before election day on December
8th.

Election Day just so happens to fall on the same day as
the
'Day of Loyalty to the Supreme Commander Hugo
Chavez' — now guess who that will get out on the
streets all amped up and ready to vote... The opposition has
cried foul, but Maduro is "certain" that everyone will vote
their political conscience.